Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-02-24
INGENIOUS RAsCALITY.
An Ex-Postofice Clerk from Woodland
Falls into a Trap.

About month ago young man named
Ernest F. Schliemann, nephew of the ex
County Clerk of Yolo, called at the Sacra
mento Postoffice, and, presenting letter o.
introduction from Postmaster Pedlar, o.
Woodland explained that hewas Deputy
Postmaster at that place, and would like
TO pass through the Sacramento office and
note its workings. Deputy Postmaster
| Leake submitted the request to Post
not been favorably impressed by Mr.
Settlements appearance. He consented
however, to allow him to go through the
office, but directed that the rule prohibit
ing such visitors from med ling with any,
thing or being allowed to wa nder about al
will should be strictly enforced. Schlie-
mann appeared we'll satisfied, and during
his visit was loquacious, comparing what
he saw with the manner matters were con-
Quoted at Woodland, etc., and became
quite familiar. During the following weeks
he frequently stopped at the windows to
exchange a few words with the clerks.
Last Monday during Mr.. Leake's absence
at breakfast,
HE PRESENTED A MONEY ORDER
From Woodland for 500. A letter of ad-
vice, signed by the Woodland Postmaster,
had previously been received in proper
form, and the money was paid. Yesterday
| Postmaster Pedlar came to the city, called
upon Mr.. Leake, told him that he had be-
come suspicious that Schliemann was dis
honest, and asked if the latter had cashed
any money orders here. Mr.. Leake re-
piled that be had received the coin
on one for 500 last Monday. The
statement was sufficient to con-
| firm Postmaster Pedlar's suspicious, and to
| show a state of facts about as follows
Schlemann had been employed in the
| Woodland office. but was discharged on
the 18th of last month. With a view of
making a scheme he had in mind oper-
alive, he came to Sacramento and made the
acquaintance of the Postofiice clerks, so
| that he would not need any identification !;
and during bis stay here he also obtained
the names of reputable citizens to use as
he found occasion. Returning to Wood
land, he, last Monday, while Mr.. Pedlar
was absent from his office,
WENT IN FAMILIARITY,
And, assuming to be good naturally assist
ing the young lady acting as deputy, made
out an application for money order, pay
able to f. H. Wing. Sacramento, for 81,
from himself, and paid the dollar and also
the five-cent fee. He then made out an
order payable to himself, in Sacramento, for
500, instead of ST., and filled out
the Postmaster's letter of ad
vice to Postmaster Stephens
in the same sum. When Mr.. Pc liar re-
turned and saw the order for 81, and found
the fee paid, he did not mistrust anything
wrong, and in fact nothing could have
been ascertained showing that there had
been trickery until after the accounts from
the Sacramento and Woodland Postoffices
had been received and compared at Wash
ington but for Mr.. Pedlar's subsequent sus
picions.
AFTER DRAWING THE 800,
Schliemann returned to Woodland, and
yesterday morning, while Mr.. Pedlar was
out of the office, and the lady clerk was
busy, he filled out an application for an
order payable to Charles Smith, of this
city, for 81, and another payable to Moore
Hesketh, also for 81. In the same manner
that he operated last Monday, he used these
applications as a blind, and filled out orders
and letters of advice in his own favor for
800 in each instance, payable in Sacra-
mento.
His plan of operations being made
known, Mr.. Leake directed Mr.. Pedlar to
take seat in the private office and wait
developments. He then sent word to
Chief Dillman to repair to the Postoffice,
and told the Money Order Clerk that he
himself would attend to business till the
office closed. Schliemann appears TO have
preferred not to do business with Mr.
Leake. and timed his arrival at the Post
office, so as to be there when that gentle
man would ordinarily have been gone to
dinner. He entered the money-order of
flee before Chief Dillman had arrived and
seemed quite surprised to see Leake, but
the latter talked pleasantly and
PUT HIM AT HIS EASE.
Chief Dillman, who had hurried up with
officer Sullivan, arrived about this time,
and entered, leaving Sullivan outside
something Leake called to the Chief, before
the latter could say anything, " Hank. Mr..
Stephens wants TO see you. He'll be in be-
fore long" Schliemann did not appear
disposed to say anything about money
orders for a while but spoke of other mat
tiers. and stated that he had not been back
to Woodland since Monday, and said he
had heard from his old home in Princeton,
H., that his father was SICK and that he
intended TO go back and see him. AS he
would not introduce the subject Of money
orders, Leake said to him, By-the-way,
there are some
ADvIcEs HERE IN YOUR FAVOR,
And you might as well get them now as
any time." Schleimann consented, and
was in the act of writing his signature as
receipt when Leake called upon Chief Dill
man to arrest him. 1t was doubtful which
was the most surprised, Schliemann or the
Chief. However, the arrest was made, and
the prisoner was taken to the private office
and experienced another surprise when he
ID1rt Dad Nv,
being searched he proved to be armed
very thoroughly, having a knife with an
immense blade. pistol and cartridges in
abundance, and two bottles of laudanum.
He said he thought he might have need of
the weapons while travelling, but he did
not explain much about the poison. He
had only about S13 left of the 500 OBJ
tanned on Monday, having spent the re-
malnder. or paid bills with it. meanwhile.
The Chief and officer Sullivan escorted
him to the Western Hotel, where be had
put up, and found his
BAGGAGE ALL PACKED,
Ready for his proposed trip East that even
ing, after he should have drawn the 5000
for which he had furnished himself with
the necessary orders. After Schliemann
had been lodged in Jail, Postmaster Ste
phens had an interview with him in Chief
Dlllman private ONCE, III the presence OF
the Chief, and found him willing to talk
freely In answer 20 direct questions as to
the manner of making ont the orders and
advices, he frankly admitted that he had
filled out applications in the names
of Sacramentans for small sums,
and then made out the orders in
favor of himself in large amounts,
as narrated above. Mr.. Stephens asked
him who he contemplated, when he was
doing this work of raising the orders,
would have to pay the loss when the facts
were discovered, and he said he did not
know-had not thought much about that
but supposed
UNCLE SAM WOULD HAVE TO STAND IT.
Did not know that Mr. pedlar would be
the sufferer Just what the charge against
him will be has not been settled. He GER
! tainlv has been guilty of forgery, in sign
ing Postmaster Pedlar's name to the orders
and advices, and also guilty of classifying
records. A Government agent from below
is expected to arrive hereto get him day.
The transactions in which Schliemann
has been engaged will probably cost Mr..
Pedlar the loss of $50 or $50, but be is
fortunate in being saved the other $500. He
SAYS that he had Instructed his deputy not
to allow Schliemann in the Office, but she
was very busy Yesterday when he entered.
Hearing that he had been there and inter-
| fered with the accounts, Mr.. Pediars sus-
Dioiops uerp cd and he kent him in